‘Food allergies: Is it all in our heads?’ the BBC’s One Show asked in January
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theoneshow/consumer/2009/01/27/food-allergies-is-it-all-in-yo.html
Clare Balding investigated food allergies and intolerances and asked if we’ve become too fussy about the food we eat.
Nutritionist Azmina Govindji warned against the dangers of self-diagnosis. She recommends a visit to the doctor if you are worried about an allergy or intolerance.
Celebrity culture was also mentioned. Has the rise in allergies come in part from celebrity culture and the way that we model ourselves on those in the public eye?
Amongst the many responses one contributor commented:
“Where are all these doctors willing to test you for food intolerance and allergies? My doctor just says the tests are unreliable and fob’s you off. So your only choice is to self diagnose and try to find things that make you feel better.”
Sadly this is the all too common statement I receive from my clients seeking answers to their symptoms and looking to improve health and quality of life.
“Food Intolerances should be taken seriously, ESPECIALLY by nutritionists and doctors, shame on those who ‘dumb it down’.” Why is it so difficult to take food intolerance seriously?
Frustration from sufferers is also evident regarding the consistently negative reporting of the subject: “As usual the BBC is totally irresponsible in covering a topic involving the health of the nation. Why they choose columnists and dieticians to discuss food allergy is beyond me. As for the advice that allergy needs to be confirmed by a doctor…. These are the same doctors that have had approximately NO training in nutrition and health issues surrounding diet and lifestyle. Dieticians are not much better. Food allergy and food intolerance are 2 very different things…..very real and not at all a FAD”.
There are many similar comments obviously posted by those unfortunate enough to suffer from common, everyday complaints which, though not life threatening, make life miserable none the less. The fact is that food intolerance tests are not available through the NHS even privately. This is why perhaps thousands of people each year resort to a therapist practitioner to find relief, and where word of mouth referral is powerful in providing these practices with clients. The medical profession’s main reluctance in acknowledging food intolerance is the lack of scientific validity. Therapy is not an exact science, this can also can be said of homeopathy, acupuncture, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and in fact many other areas of medicine. It doesn’t invalidate or discredit it; it just makes it less than perfect.
For those patients who are referred by GP’s for further investigations into symptoms it is only right and proper to eliminate serious disease and I heartily agree that this is the correct procedure to be followed. However there are many who are told they have to either ‘live with it’ or ‘try an elimination diet’ in the belief that nothing more can be done.
The gold standard in treating food intolerance or sensitivity is an elimination diet, with or without a test. Great, we all agree so far, but it could take a lifetime to find the right one! And this is the crux, how do you know what to eliminate? The purpose of a private test is simply to take the slog out of the almost impossible task of identifying the culprit(s). The procedure is safe, simple and non-invasive and a good practitioner will ensure clients maintain a balanced healthy diet.
In the meantime patients continue to suffer because media channels prefer to ridicule both those helping and being helped. Surely a better scoop would be to follow a real live case study?